This stop marks the Poole end of Bournemouth’s long-running seafront land train, set down at the top of Branksome Chine beach where the promenade gives way to sand and cliff. It isn’t a building or a formal terminus so much as a boarding and drop-off point, but it’s a useful one: from here the westbound train threads back along the coast through Alum Chine and Durley Chine towards Bournemouth Pier, making it possible to see several of the area’s chines without walking the whole seafront.
What it is
The land trains are small, open-sided seafront vehicles that have run along this stretch of coast for decades, and the route was extended from Bournemouth into Poole to reach Branksome Chine in 2018. This stop is simply where that westbound service begins and ends its run, at beach level below the chine. It’s worth noting that the promenade here has been affected by cliff slips in recent years, and the section of route between Bournemouth Pier and Alum Chine (which takes in this stop) has at times been suspended for repairs, so it’s sensible to check current running status before making a special trip.
Visiting
Branksome Chine beach itself, right where the train stop sits, carries Blue Flag status and offers a genuinely sandy beach beneath steep, tree-lined chine cliffs. In season, RNLI lifeguards patrol the water, and an electric BBQ hire point operates through the summer months for anyone wanting to cook up on the sand. There’s a beach office, accessible toilets, drinking water and a scattering of shops and food kiosks nearby, so it works well as a base for a few hours rather than just a quick pass-through.
Where it is
The stop sits on Pinecliff Road in Poole, at the foot of Branksome Chine, with an on-site surface car park for anyone arriving by road. It’s a short walk from the wider Poole seafront, and the nearest railway stations are Branksome (around 1.5 miles), Parkstone (around 2 miles) and Bournemouth (around 2.4 miles), with regular morebus services also passing nearby. Heading east along the land train route brings you to Alum Chine beach and then Durley Chine beach before reaching Bournemouth Pier.
Good to know
Card payment only is accepted on the land train, so bring a contactless card or phone rather than cash. Dogs are kept off the main beach between late May and early September but are welcome on a lead on the promenade year-round, with a designated dog-friendly beach stretch running towards Alum Chine outside those summer restrictions. Beach access is ramped, and wheelchair-friendly beach chairs can be borrowed in season on a first-come basis.
